Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Just as Bu Zhi was about to send his military advisor out of the city to question the Shu Han army, unexpectedly, Wei Yan sent Bu Zhi's son, Bu Chan, back first.

Bu Zhi looked at his good son with suspicion in his eyes: "You just said that the general in charge of the Shu army is Wei Yan? This man has kept you in the army for so many days, how could he let you come back?"

Now it was Bu Chan's turn to be puzzled: "Isn't Uncle Wei a longtime friend of Father? Uncle Wei said that he sent troops to rescue Father from the Wei army's encirclement. Now that we've arrived at Xiling, why leave his son in his camp? Of course, it's to send me back."

“Father, Uncle Wei also sent me with three hundred bolts of Shu brocade, saying it was a gift for you. I have examined them all; each one has a unique pattern and color, and they are all exquisite and of great value!”

How could Bu Zhi not know that his son had been deceived by Wei Yan?

Having given birth to a child of his own flesh and blood, what else could Bu Zhi do? So Bu Zhi took a deep breath and patiently asked again:

"Could Wei Yan say how many soldiers he brought?"

“Thirty thousand!” Bu Chan said confidently, “Uncle Wei said that Han and Wu are allies, and once Father and the General are rescued, they will surely retreat back to Yong’an!”

"Oh." Bu Zhi's face flushed slightly. "Why do you trust Wei Yan so much?"

"Wei Shishu swore an oath before his son, and he will not lie about it!"

"Can't be faked?! What does an oath mean in the face of national affairs?!" Bu Zhi originally wanted to send away his stupid son and vent his anger alone in the hall, but unexpectedly, Bu Chan kept calling him "Uncle Wei" and heard that Wei Yan was leading 30,000 troops. Wei Yan even told his son about such a thing. Either he was showing off to him, or he thought his son's intelligence was as dull as a block of wood!
"I'll show you what you're made of!" Bu Zhi grabbed the riding whip at his side, finally unable to bear it any longer, and lashed it hard across Bu Chan's chest: "Your father has been cautious in his actions in Wu for decades, and he hardly even associates with court officials. How could he have been on good terms with a Shu general for twenty years?"

"You think three hundred bolts of brocade can bribe you?" Bu Zhi whipped the drum with increasing vigor, as if he wanted to release the anger he had been simmering in the siege. He roared, "How could I, a man of such shrewdness, have given birth to such a foolish and stubborn son?!"

Bu Chan had never seen his father like this before, and he was both afraid and angry: "Father, did Wei Wenchang deceive me?"

"You're only just realizing it?" Bu Zhi roared, throwing down his whip and pointing outside the hall, his voice trembling as he said, "Get out! Get out of here!"

Bu Chan dared not linger. He crawled backward a few steps on the ground, then stumbled to his feet and ran away. He thought his mission had gone smoothly, that he had obtained such reinforcements, and that he had made a great contribution. Little did he expect Wei Yan to be so treacherous!

Bu Zhi vented his anger alone in the hall, then sat down and thought for more than half an hour. He then summoned his subordinates and military advisors to discuss the matter for a long time before arriving at a preliminary feasible plan.

That is, General Bu Zhi of the Great Wu Cavalry would personally go out of the city to meet Wei Yan.

Wu and Han were allies, and Wei Yan only broke the agreement by leaving the border without making any explicit statement of attack.

The two sides haven't broken ties yet. Didn't Lu Zijing meet Guan Yu by the river in the past? It hasn't come to the point of fighting yet!
When Bu Zhi's messenger left the city and headed north to Wei Yan's army camp, he immediately proposed that General Wei and General Bu meet alone, like the old story of Guan Yu and Lu Zijing. Wei Yan agreed without hesitation.

Wei Yan respected the late emperor the most throughout his life.

Under the late emperor, only Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang were respected by Wei Yan.

Wei Yan was certainly willing to emulate Guan Yu's past deeds!
So, three hundred paces north of Xiling City, Wei Yan and Bu Zhi, two riders, one from north to south and the other from south to north, met each other, dismounted and greeted each other.

After exchanging slight bows, the two stared at each other for a long time before Wei Yan grinned, breaking the deadlock:

“Brother Zishan, I have already entrusted my nephew to deliver the gift to you. I wonder if Brother Zishan is satisfied?” Bu Zhi replied calmly, “General Wei is renowned, and I am not worthy of being addressed as Brother Zishan. We are not here for personal matters, but for matters of state, so please address me properly, General Wei.”

"Also, I will send someone to return all three hundred bolts of brocade to you later. General Wu will not accept gifts from the Han Kingdom."

"What are three hundred bolts of brocade?" Wei Yan knew perfectly well why Bu Zhi was not being friendly, and waved his hand: "Our two countries are allies, it's really not worth mentioning."

“However, General Bu,” Wei Yan’s face also turned cold, “I am here today for matters of state.”

"Your General Zhuge wrote a letter in his own hand to our Prime Minister Zhuge. I have read the original, and the concern in it is quite obvious. I remember General Zhuge saying that the Wei army came to the vicinity of Jiangling on the 20th of December last year, is that right or wrong?"

“It’s this time.” Bu Zhi nodded.

Wei Yan then asked, "According to General Zhuge, your forces in Jiangling and Xiling are not small. General Bu, we are allies of Han and Wu, you must give me the truth: how well have you Wu people fared in this battle?"

What will it look like? Even Bu Zhi himself might not know!
First, the Wei cavalry conquered the counties west of Jiangling, and then the Wei army crossed the river to attack Bailizhou and Lexiang. After these two places were captured, both the water and land routes from Jiangling to Xiling were cut off, so how could they possibly know anything more?

However, as the General of the Flying Cavalry of Wu, Bu Zhi held a high position and wielded great power, so he still had to put on a show of respect.

"The war is over." Bu Zhi took a breath and tried to remain calm, then made up a story: "The road from Jiangling to Xiling is open. The Wei army attacked Jiangling for fifty days without success and has withdrawn all its troops to the north bank of the river. They will be leaving soon."

"Oh?" Wei Yan looked surprised. "So, you've received a message from General Zhuge?"

"Of course," Bu Zhi said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Wei Yan then asked, "What about Wuchang and other places? Is there any fighting in Yangzhou?"

Bu Zhi then casually remarked, "The Wu army has tens of thousands stationed in Wuchang. The Wei generals in Jiangxia have always been mediocre, and they withdrew their troops by the end of January. As for Yangzhou... Yangzhou has the natural defense of Ruxu, so the Wei army dares not invade."

Wei Yan nodded slightly, then glanced at Bu Zhi's feigned composure. Wei Yan was a fierce general on the battlefield, with extremely sharp eyes that could see through any slight movement. How could he not notice Bu Zhi's nervous expression?
Wei Yan chuckled, turned around and mounted his horse: "Since that's the case, then I understand."

"However, General Bu, are you familiar with the story of 'attending a banquet alone with a sword'?"

"How could I not know?" Bu Zhi saw Wei Yan mount his horse, and he also mounted his own.

Wei Yan laughed and said, "Back then, it was Lord Guan who led two generals to meet Lu Zijing's fourteen generals. Each of them carried a single sword. Lord Guan was unparalleled in bravery, so he dared to face fifteen people with only three men without fear."

"Since you know my name, how dare you meet me alone?"

"You..." Bu Zhi had just pointed at Wei Yan, about to scold him, but Wei Yan, being so tall and strong, simply nudged his horse's belly, easily knocked Bu Zhi's hand off the reins, and with a light stretch of his long arm, instantly grabbed Bu Zhi and carried him to the center of the formation, as if he were carrying a child.

The city of Xiling behind them erupted into chaos almost instantly. (End of Chapter)